A DIVORCE SUIT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2277, 5 July 1880, Page 3

A DIVORCE SUIT.

ixons a', ixoi,is. Tlie marriage of the petitioner and respondent, avlio Avero both 3'oung at the time, was solemnised at St. Pan eras New Church, in Sept. ISG3. Yciy shortly after their union the respondent who was a clerk in the Pailway Clearing House, ivas guilty of personal A’iolencc towards his Avife, and he, on several occasions, beat their infant child, a daughter, when only 2 months old, in her presence. On one occasion he held the child by its feet, and swinging it round,threw it violently on the sofa, and, fearing for its life, the petitioner placed it for protection under the charge of its grandmother. She herself had to leave him in consequence of his continued ill-treatment, in Nov., 1804, and in the following year he went to Australia. After a brief stay in the colony he returned to England, and some time afterwards he left for Hew Zealand, where he pined the stage,and achieved, it was said, considerable success and reputation as an actor. The list communication which his wife received from him Aras in 18G7. In 1870 she heard that he Avas living at Dunedin or Otago, in New Zealand, Avith a Avoman aalio passed ns his Avife, and with Avhom there Avas reason, it Avas said, to suppose he had gone through a ceremony of marriage. The copy of the j ctition and citation in the suit were served upon, him at Otago, in 1875, but, OAving to (he death of her then solicitor, avlio had taken up her cause out of .-ympathy, and Avant of means, the petitioner was unable to continue the suit until last year, Aviien a commission Avas sent out to Hew Zealand and evidence taken under it establishing the charge of adultery alleged in the petition against the respondent. The cruelty’ with Avhich he Avas also charged Avas likewise proved, and on these grounds, and on the prayer of the petitioner, the Court pronounced a decree nisi Avilh costs. — t! Home News.”